This has to come as a complete surprise to OSU and WSU.

Sort of destroys the need to rebuild the PAC doesn’t it?

cval wrote:Sort of destroys the need to rebuild the PAC doesn’t it?

Other than people do like the name/brand.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

I think the brand just needs to die. Let the MWC continue to build its brand into something if there is going to be any kind of merger.

Sure, if Oregon State and Wazzu had any value they wouldn't be in the position they are in.

Agreed, and considering Wazzu is a geographical oddity, they are almost a liability (yes yes I get that they have a storied history and so forth, okay fine).

pilotaggie wrote: ↑

April 22nd, 2024, 7:16 pm

cval wrote:Sort of destroys the need to rebuild the PAC doesn’t it?

Other than people do like the name/brand.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

Outside of Utah fans, who likes it?

dirtnsnow wrote: ↑

April 23rd, 2024, 9:16 am

pilotaggie wrote: ↑

April 22nd, 2024, 7:16 pm

cval wrote:Sort of destroys the need to rebuild the PAC doesn’t it?

Other than people do like the name/brand.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

Outside of Utah fans, who likes it?

"people"

I don't care either way, PAC12 or MWC, either is fine.

ratofallaggies wrote: ↑

April 23rd, 2024, 9:56 am

dirtnsnow wrote: ↑

April 23rd, 2024, 9:16 am

pilotaggie wrote: ↑

April 22nd, 2024, 7:16 pm

cval wrote:Sort of destroys the need to rebuild the PAC doesn’t it?

Other than people do like the name/brand.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

Outside of Utah fans, who likes it?

"people"

ratofallaggies wrote: ↑

April 23rd, 2024, 9:56 am

dirtnsnow wrote: ↑

April 23rd, 2024, 9:16 am

pilotaggie wrote: ↑

April 22nd, 2024, 7:16 pm

cval wrote:Sort of destroys the need to rebuild the PAC doesn’t it?

Other than people do like the name/brand.

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

Outside of Utah fans, who likes it?

"people"

Bill Walton. That's about it.

Both Wazzu and Beaver fans are delusional, they still think they have a chance of getting invited to the ACC to balance out Stanford/Cal. Of course, all of this hinges on FSU and Miami leaving for the SEC in 2026, which could happen, I suppose. But still... get real

ViAggie wrote: ↑

April 23rd, 2024, 5:32 pm

Both Wazzu and Beaver fans are delusional, they still think they have a chance of getting invited to the ACC to balance out Stanford/Cal. Of course, all of this hinges on FSU and Miami leaving for the SEC in 2026, which could happen, I suppose. But still... get real

Fixed

Since the fateful days of Kliakov's Folly, the crumbling downfall of the once mighty PAC12 never really been in doubt.

Utah ran for the exits at the first opportunity. As they probably should have.

I am in favor of reaching out and helping WSU and OSU to a reasonable soft landing as much as the MWC can without jeopardizing things on our end.

But to be honest, most of the heavy lifting is still going to be on the shoulders of WSU and OSU. They rode into this mess. They will have to ride out.

The bloated budgets, debt, and out of control spending will not be fixed in the twinkling of an eye. And it is not going to be fixed by others. WSU and OSU are going to have to dig themselves out of the mess.

I am afraid that by ignoring the elephant in the room for decades, there are now quite a few adult conversations that will simply need to be held in order to move forward.

For example, how do we structure scheduling agreements and financial arrangements with the MWC that eventually will lead to membership conversations when the harsh reality is that we are going to be struggling mightily just to maintain some semblance of normalcy in our Athletic Departments.

RogerAndersen wrote: ↑

April 23rd, 2024, 6:19 pm

Since the fateful days of Kliakov's Folly, the crumbling downfall of the once mighty PAC12 never really been in doubt.

Utah ran for the exits at the first opportunity. As they probably should have.

I am in favor of reaching out and helping WSU and OSU to a reasonable soft landing as much as the MWC can without jeopardizing things on our end.

But to be honest, most of the heavy lifting is still going to be on the shoulders of WSU and OSU. They rode into this mess. They will have to ride out.

The bloated budgets, debt, and out of control spending will not be fixed in the twinkling of an eye. And it is not going to be fixed by others. WSU and OSU are going to have to dig themselves out of the mess.

I am afraid that by ignoring the elephant in the room for decades, there are now quite a few adult conversations that will simply need to be held in order to move forward.

For example, how do we structure scheduling agreements and financial arrangements with the MWC that eventually will lead to membership conversations when the harsh reality is that we are going to be struggling mightily just to maintain some semblance of normalcy in our Athletic Departments.

In the run up to the LA Bowl, I got an account on Benny'shouse.com, the OSU fanboard. Up to this point, they've been totally delusional. It doesn't help that Scott Barnes has been feeding the delusion with statements like "their highest priority is rebuilding the PAC". They still think that when FSU and Clemson/Miami/Notre Dame leaves the ACC for the SEC, that either:
1. They are going to get Cal and Stanford back, plus some number from the MWC, and maybe some additional from the ACC and/or AAC to rebuild the PAC
2. The ACC will take them in to replace the departing FSU + C/M/ND, and create a western pod of the ACC, maybe with SDSU and either Boise or Fresno.
Eventually they are going to have to deal with harsh reality. On paper, I think adding them to the MWC would be great. They're a good fit, western Land Grant universities, and there is strength in numbers. However, I think that under the circumstances, they may become perennial malcontents, as bad or worse than SDSU and BSU. At this point, I'd only take them in when they get on their knees and beg.

Wazzu and the Beavers keep hoping that the ACC falling apart will save them. Their problem is if/when that happens there won't be an ACC left, all the desirable teams will go B1G, Big 12 and SEC and the left overs will merge with AAC, then they can call themselves AACC. Cal and Stanford will either join that group or the MWC +2.

I have a feeling once that happens the B1G and SEC will pick apart the Big 12 for two huge 'super conferences' and the left overs from that will merge into the AACC and MWC +2/4.

wsu and osu should be cautious about how they've played this whole thing out. I'm not seeing anyone throwing them a lifeline and they likely wont get more attractive than they once were as a recently departed P12 member. After a couple seasons in the wcc and basically an independent with a scheduling agreement with the MW... they will likely not look so pretty as expansion candidates. It's a big gamble.

There's G5 alignment discussion taking place. Who knows where it ends.

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/ ... p.amp.html

ustate98 wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 8:26 am

Wazzu and the Beavers keep hoping that the ACC falling apart will save them. Their problem is if/when that happens there won't be an ACC left, all the desirable teams will go B1G, Big 12 and SEC and the left overs will merge with AAC, then they can call themselves AACC. Cal and Stanford will either join that group or the MWC +2.

I have a feeling once that happens the B1G and SEC will pick apart the Big 12 for two huge 'super conferences' and the left overs from that will merge into the AACC and MWC +2/4.

As I've been predicting for a while now, and both the B1G and the SEC will find a way to shed the underperforming schools in their ranks as well.

AngusAg wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 9:02 am

There's G5 alignment discussion taking place. Who knows where it ends.

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/ ... p.amp.html

I could get behind a single banner with regional divisions and revenue sharing. Throw in a relegation system with FCS and actual NIL rules, and we're really cooking up something big and more interesting than the two super conferences.

dirtnsnow wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 9:53 am

AngusAg wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 9:02 am

There's G5 alignment discussion taking place. Who knows where it ends.

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/ ... p.amp.html

I could get behind a single banner with regional divisions and revenue sharing. Throw in a relegation system with FCS and actual NIL rules, and we're really cooking up something big and more interesting than the two super conferences.

I really like the MWC as it is currently configured; I guess I'm biased. Also, don't get complacent, if my prediction comes true, there is a good chance we could see either ybu (likely) and/or Utah (less likely) left out of the two-power conference configuration. No doubt they will use what leverage they have to try and screw us over.

ViAggie wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 10:25 am

dirtnsnow wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 9:53 am

AngusAg wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 9:02 am

There's G5 alignment discussion taking place. Who knows where it ends.

https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/ ... p.amp.html

I could get behind a single banner with regional divisions and revenue sharing. Throw in a relegation system with FCS and actual NIL rules, and we're really cooking up something big and more interesting than the two super conferences.

I really like the MWC as it is currently configured; I guess I'm biased. Also, don't get complacent, if my prediction comes true, there is a good chance we could see either ybu (likely) and/or Utah (less likely) left out of the two-power conference configuration. No doubt they will use what leverage they have to try and screw us over.

I agree that they would try to screw us over, which is where the single banner comes into play. They might have some sway regionally, but if we're taking about all the G5 and FCS schools banding together to set the rules, they would not have nearly as much pull.

The only way I let WSU and OSU in is:

1. No Special Carveouts or Treatments for WSU/OSU ever.
2. If you want to be a member of the Conference, be member just like every other institution.
3. Boy See's Special Treatment goes away forever.
4. Because the MWC members have all lived with the disruption and destabilization of Hair-brained unequal financial arrangements, we all agree never to go down that road again.

ratofallaggies wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 9:01 am

wsu and osu should be cautious about how they've played this whole thing out. I'm not seeing anyone throwing them a lifeline and they likely wont get more attractive than they once were as a recently departed P12 member. After a couple seasons in the wcc and basically an independent with a scheduling agreement with the MW... they will likely not look so pretty as expansion candidates. It's a big gamble.

100% 2 years away from the PAC 12 and everyone will forget they were even in the PAC 12. Their budgets will drop dramatically and they aren't used to doing more with less.

RogerAndersen wrote: ↑

April 23rd, 2024, 6:19 pm

Utah ran for the exits at the first opportunity. As they probably should have.

This statement isn't entirely accurate. Utah was one of the last holdouts. Mark Harlan made an a$$ of himself on twitter by vehemently denying the U's intention of abondoning the PAC, most notably in his infamouts "give me a break" response to Stewart Mandel's reporting that the Four Corner schools would be bolting for the Big 12.

Ironically, it very well could have been Utah's inflated sense of self-worth that caused the downfall of the entire conference. It was reported that several university presidents had been leaning on the "expert opinion" of one Utah professor who vastly overestimated what the value of a PAC media deal should be without USC and UCLA. The figure he proposed as being realistic and fair didn't come anywhere close to the value of the deal that Kliavkoff was able to negotiate with Apple. It also wouldn't have been close to any package the PAC could have negotiated with linear tv partners.

USC, UCLA, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon had all officially announced their intent to depart prior to Utah. Arizona & Arizona State were also publically expressing their consideration of a Big 12 offer prior to Utah.

In sequential order, Utah was the 8th school to bolt. They jumped ship just before Cal & Stanford.

Either way things break in the future, there is no reason for the MWC to stand pat. Our commissioner knows that.

I would say, if there are institutions that fit the MWC geographic, institutional, and financial footprint, the Conference should work proactively to entice and invite them to join our league. If they truly are a fit. Whether they play Football or not.

WSU/OSU may not be in a mindset to jump to the MWC next week or next month or even next year, but I would start laying the ground work now.

And, I would start working on our relationships with schools like Gonzaga and St. Mary's now too.

My guess is that in order for OSU and Wazzu to join, they will want a Boise-type deal and a cost-free parachute to bail out at a moment's notice if and (LOL) when the ACC comes calling. I bet that's what they ask for, what they get is up to the rest of us.

As far as I am concerned, BSU can take their "special deal" and roll it up into a nice fatty and smoke it.

And WSU/OSU can do the same with whatever special deal they have in mind as well.

Now if USC, UCLA, UO, and UW come calling and want to join the MWC, the conference would quickly agree to some kind of special carve outs because programs like that bring a ton of fans, money, academic prowess and credibility.

They might be justified in asking to be treated a bit differently.

SUDS, BSU, WSU, and OSU seem like they belong here like most of us do.

RogerAndersen wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 12:16 pm

Either way things break in the future, there is no reason for the MWC to stand pat. Our commissioner knows that.

I would say, if there are institutions that fit the MWC geographic, institutional, and financial footprint, the Conference should work proactively to entice and invite them to join our league. If they truly are a fit. Whether they play Football or not.

WSU/OSU may not be in a mindset to jump to the MWC next week or next month or even next year, but I would start laying the ground work now.

And, I would start working on our relationships with schools like Gonzaga and St. Mary's now too.

Aside from WSU and OSU, there are not really any other schools that fit the MWC footprint or demographic that would realistically consider accepting an invite. If there were, they would probably already have been invited.

The only schools that may fit are NMSU (I'd pass based on baggage alone), Montana and Montana State (I don't think they want to make the jump in football), UTEP (really amounts to just taking another slice of the pie), and some of the Cal State schools (same boat as UTEP). Gonzaga and St. Mary's marginally improve the conference for basketball but don't really add anything else.

There are two readily apparent scenarios where the PAC can be resurrected. One, the B1G and SEC break away with some other schools and ditch the Utahs, Arizonas, and Colorados, leaving them with having to either create a new conference or join the MWC. Two, the mega conferences break apart when the TV money dries up due to cord cutting and there are not enough subscribers to streaming services, ushering in the return of regional conference sanity.

I agree that the MWC needs to be proactive as does USU, because other conference mates are still trying to position themselves for whatever madness happens next.

bwcrc wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 7:37 pm

RogerAndersen wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 12:16 pm

Either way things break in the future, there is no reason for the MWC to stand pat. Our commissioner knows that.

I would say, if there are institutions that fit the MWC geographic, institutional, and financial footprint, the Conference should work proactively to entice and invite them to join our league. If they truly are a fit. Whether they play Football or not.

WSU/OSU may not be in a mindset to jump to the MWC next week or next month or even next year, but I would start laying the ground work now.

And, I would start working on our relationships with schools like Gonzaga and St. Mary's now too.

Aside from WSU and OSU, there are not really any other schools that fit the MWC footprint or demographic that would realistically consider accepting an invite. If there were, they would probably already have been invited.

The only schools that may fit are NMSU (I'd pass based on baggage alone), Montana and Montana State (I don't think they want to make the jump in football), UTEP (really amounts to just taking another slice of the pie), and some of the Cal State schools (same boat as UTEP). Gonzaga and St. Mary's marginally improve the conference for basketball but don't really add anything else.

There are two readily apparent scenarios where the PAC can be resurrected. One, the B1G and SEC break away with some other schools and ditch the Utahs, Arizonas, and Colorados, leaving them with having to either create a new conference or join the MWC. Two, the mega conferences break apart when the TV money dries up due to cord cutting and there are not enough subscribers to streaming services, ushering in the return of regional conference sanity.

I agree that the MWC needs to be proactive as does USU, because other conference mates are still trying to position themselves for whatever madness happens next.

If what we end up with is two 24 team super conferences, and then everyone else, I'm not too worried. Of the PAC-12 schools, I think only USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon would make the cut. That leaves eight PAC-12 schools, BYU, twelve MWC conference schools, and maybe NMSU. That's twenty-two schools. Scrounge up two more, and you have enough for two twelve team western conferences; basically the diminished PAC, and a slightly diminished MWC. We'll have a place to land, but almost certainly not in the same conference as the U and the Y. Although, I would hope that the U would end up screwing over the Y in some way. It would be poetic justice.

Edit: Oh, and strangely, there is one other school that fits the MWC profile: Cal. In my time on Bennyshouse.com, I was informed that technically, the entire University of California is the land grant. While UC Davis has most of the land grant functions, Cal Berkeley is the home campus of the land grant system. Learn something new every day.

LKGates wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 9:57 pm

bwcrc wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 7:37 pm

RogerAndersen wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 12:16 pm

Either way things break in the future, there is no reason for the MWC to stand pat. Our commissioner knows that.

I would say, if there are institutions that fit the MWC geographic, institutional, and financial footprint, the Conference should work proactively to entice and invite them to join our league. If they truly are a fit. Whether they play Football or not.

WSU/OSU may not be in a mindset to jump to the MWC next week or next month or even next year, but I would start laying the ground work now.

And, I would start working on our relationships with schools like Gonzaga and St. Mary's now too.

Aside from WSU and OSU, there are not really any other schools that fit the MWC footprint or demographic that would realistically consider accepting an invite. If there were, they would probably already have been invited.

The only schools that may fit are NMSU (I'd pass based on baggage alone), Montana and Montana State (I don't think they want to make the jump in football), UTEP (really amounts to just taking another slice of the pie), and some of the Cal State schools (same boat as UTEP). Gonzaga and St. Mary's marginally improve the conference for basketball but don't really add anything else.

There are two readily apparent scenarios where the PAC can be resurrected. One, the B1G and SEC break away with some other schools and ditch the Utahs, Arizonas, and Colorados, leaving them with having to either create a new conference or join the MWC. Two, the mega conferences break apart when the TV money dries up due to cord cutting and there are not enough subscribers to streaming services, ushering in the return of regional conference sanity.

I agree that the MWC needs to be proactive as does USU, because other conference mates are still trying to position themselves for whatever madness happens next.

If what we end up with is two 24 team super conferences, and then everyone else, I'm not too worried. Of the PAC-12 schools, I think only USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon would make the cut. That leaves eight PAC-12 schools, BYU, twelve MWC conference schools, and maybe NMSU. That's twenty-two schools. Scrounge up two more, and you have enough for two twelve team western conferences; basically the diminished PAC, and a slightly diminished MWC. We'll have a place to land, but almost certainly not in the same conference as the U and the Y. Although, I would hope that the U would end up screwing over the Y in some way. It would be poetic justice.

The pukies are defined by their 100+ year demonstrated inclination to play "Screw Your Buddy" at every opportunity.

So count on it.

USU78 wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 10:02 pm

The pukies are defined by their 100+ year demonstrated inclination to play "Screw Your Buddy" at every opportunity.

So count on it.
[/quote]
I understand that in the military (never having served myself), they would be known as a "Blue Falcon". Because, as they say, "Being a buddy is only half of it."

LKGates wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 10:14 pm

USU78 wrote: ↑

April 24th, 2024, 10:02 pm

The pukies are defined by their 100+ year demonstrated inclination to play "Screw Your Buddy" at every opportunity.

So count on it.

I understand that in the military (never having served myself), they would be known as a "Blue Falcon". Because, as they say, "Being a buddy is only half of it."